MANILA, Philippines – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) said the island’s main source of energy would come from coal by 2018 as it stressed that diversifying sources would help address the power crunch in the island.
In a recent presentation at the Department of Energy, MinDa director for investment promotions and public affairs Romeo Montegro said next to coal, renewable energy and oil would also become major sources of power in the island.
This is necessary to meet the growing demand for power and attract existing and new players, he said.
“Ensuring sufficient and reliable power supply for Mindanao is particularly crucial to attract more investments to achieve broad-based growth and long-term sustainable development,” Montero said.
Data from MinDA showed that by 2018, coal will account for 56 percent of the energy mix in the region, while renewable energy and oil will account for 30 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
Committed projects in Mindanao include the 15-megawatt (mw) bunker-fired peaking plant of EEI Power Corp. in Davao del Norte, the 300-MW coal plant of Therma South Energy Inc. and Energy Development Corp.’s 50-MW Mindanao 3 geothermal plant.
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Indicative power projects, on the other hand, include the 100-MW San Ramon coal plant in Zamboanga City, 20-MW biomass plant of FDC Utilities Inc. in Davao del Norte and 1,200-MW coal plant of San Miguel Corp.
Montenegro said that while coal will be the major source of power in the region, renewable energy, particularly hydro will continue to be part of the energy mix.
